COVID-19 Variant Contagious and Evolving in China KP.2
Members of the Chinese public are still reporting more severe cases and sudden deaths in the country despite the regime’s attempt to cover up the situation.
The health authorities of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) recently acknowledged that the dominant COVID-19 strain, KP.2, which is currently spreading globally, has been undergoing mutations in China.
Reports from Chinese citizens across the country to The Epoch Times in Chinese revealed that local COVID-19 outbreaks were serious, with authorities withholding information about the impact of COVID.
On May 14, the Chinese regime’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a notice stating that the KP.2 variant was first detected in local cases in Guangdong on March 11. Currently, a total of 25 KP.2 sequences have been reported in China as of May 12.
Despite this, CCP health authorities claim that the proportion of KP.2 is very low, and the top three mutant strains in China are JN.1, JN.1.16, and JN.1.4.
Since January, KP.2 has been responsible for a growing number of cases worldwide. On May 3, the World Health Organization designated KP.2 as a COVID-19 variant “under monitoring.”
Related Stories
COVID-19 testing in hospitals was abruptly stopped by the CCP when it abandoned its strict “zero-COVID” policy and control measures in December 2022, resulting in a surge of infections and deaths nationwide.
The Chinese regime has attributed respiratory infections resembling COVID-19 symptoms in China to different pathogens like mycoplasma pneumonia, influenza A, and influenza B while deliberately avoiding mentioning COVID-19.
KP.2 (also known as FLiRT) is a variant derived from Omicron JN.1 that has evolved with three additional mutations in the spike protein, which health experts believe could enhance the virus’s transmissibility and ability to evade existing antibodies from prior infection or vaccinations. This variant was first identified in India on Jan. 2.
Chinese citizens reacted on social media to the CDC’s announcement of the new variant. One comment stated, “Regardless of the mutant strain, doctors treat them all as colds.” Another post mentioned, “Even in severe epidemics, they never test for COVID-19.”
Chinese Public Continues Reporting Ongoing Outbreak
People in China have informed The Epoch Times that COVID-19 has never disappeared from the country, and authorities have consistently concealed the truth, leading to a high number of severe cases and sudden deaths.
On May 13, Mr. Yan from Fangzheng County, Harbin city in Northeast China, reported a serious local COVID-19 epidemic, with many individuals experiencing recurring fevers and colds, similar to COVID-19 symptoms. He also mentioned frequent unexplained sudden deaths.
Sharing a similar experience, Mr. Yang from Guizhou Province in Southwest China mentioned that many people around him have been repeatedly infected from winter until now. Despite negative results at the local hospital, a home testing kit confirmed his COVID-19 infection. Elderly individuals are especially at risk of sudden deaths.
Mr. Chen from Sanmenxia, Henan Province, highlighted a decrease in fever and cold symptoms since March but noted that many patients continue to suffer from respiratory complications even after recovering from the infection.
Ms. Sun from Baoding city, Hebei Province, mentioned an increase in persistent coughs among the population. Many deaths have occurred, attributed to underlying diseases without a clear diagnosis of the cause.
Mr. Wang from Jiangxi Province noted an increase in colds and coughs among his circle, with many individuals developing pulmonary nodules. The demand for cremations has overwhelmed local funeral homes, prompting the opening of a new facility last year.
Li Yun and Xiong Bin contributed to this report.
